Skin Sores

Skin sores are also called pressure sores. These appear when the blood supply to a particular area of the body is stopped, which then results in the skin dying in that area.

When a person is in a wheelchair, or is incapacitated due to being bed-ridden at all times, the skin on which the person tends to exert constant pressure becomes dead and could lead to the formation of bed sores. This is because there is reduced blood flow to that area. These become worse if they are rubbed.

The other symptoms of skin sores include―select areas becoming red, cracked, scaly, blistered or the presence of broken skin, yellow discharge, and painful pressure points. These sores can be accompanied by a number of other conditions like pain, itchiness, dryness, and several other skin problems. Let us look at some of these in detail.

Care

If you do not take proper care of these sores, then there is a chance that they won't heal. So if you do not want to be faced with skin sores that won't heal, here are some things that you should do:

• Change positions every two hours.
• Shift the weight to other areas of the body every 20 minutes instead of exerting pressure on a particular section.

• Reduce the pressure that you place on select areas by using a special cushion.
• Similarly, use a 3-4 inch foam mattress or a special pressure reducing mattress to prevent the onset of more sores on the skin.
• Drink plenty of water and eat food that is rich in protein.

• Make sure you keep yourself clean by bathing everyday.
• Exercise daily. If walking is not possible then sit up and move your arms and legs about.
• In case of an open sore, there needs to be a lot of care administered.
• Clean the sore well with soap and water. Then dry it and cover with a bandage. Use an ointment if it is prescribed.

Other things that can help with these sores are:

• Make sure the bed sheet does not have any wrinkles on it.
• Sprinkle the bed sheet with cornstarch so that there is no friction caused.
• Change soiled inner wear and clothes. Do not let the patient stay in it.

Dry Sores Care

This condition can also be caused by dry skin which leads to itching in the area of the sores. Dry skin sores are caused due to cold, chilly winds, heat, and dryness. This is more prominently seen in the winter months when the climate is dry, there is less humidity, and it is severely cold.

When the skin is dry, it starts itching. But scratching of the skin is not a good solution because it can only lead to inflammation of the skin, thus making the skin sore worse. This can give rise to other related skin problems like the formation of blisters and warts. You can do these things to get relief from these and provide for effective skin care.

• Keep your skin covered when you go out into the cold. This will retain the moisture and won't let your skin dry.
• Bathe in warm water. Excessive use of extremely hot water can cause the skin to lose all its moisture.
• After bathing, pat the skin dry and then apply a moisturizer when the skin pores are open, that will soak the moisture in better.

• Make sure that you use a mild soap when bathing. Using a harsh soap can cause your skin to dry and become flaky and can lead to skin sores.
• Discontinue the use of any products like perfumes, deodorants, and soaps if you feel that they are causing dryness.
• Also, use mild detergents when cleaning, and wear gloves whenever possible.

• Use a humidifier to keep the humidity in your home intact.
• Wear loose clothes that do not rub against the skin and cause friction. Some people have extremely sensitive skin and therefore, woolen clothes do not suit them. So check for these and discontinue the usage if it affects you.

These are some of the reasons why skin sores appear. Now that you know what causes them and how to avoid them, here's hoping you won't ever have to face this rather painful condition.

Disclaimer - This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.